SA Police Warn Of Drink-Drug Driving Blitz Tomorrow

SA Police will be out and about early tomorrow morning testing drivers for alcohol and drugs as part of the ongoing Operation Stop Drink/Drug Driving campaign.

The operation will see police out in every Local Service Area across the state during the day as part of a proactive road safety blitz.

“It is important that the community remember that a police officer can pull a motorist over at any time of the day or night and require them to undergo a breath test,” Superintendent Robert Gray, the officer in charge of the SA Police Traffic Support Branch, said.

“While we are warning the community about this operation, we aren’t releasing the times or locations – with all drivers urged to take responsibly for their actions.

“If you are drinking alcohol tonight, then don’t get behind the wheel until your body has had time to fully process those drinks.

“If you have responsibility for the school run, or other tasks in a motor vehicle in the morning, the afternoon or the evening, then consider the choices you make that put your life – along with the people in your vehicle and other road users – at risk.”

Under the Road Traffic Act 1961, it is an offence for a motorist to drive, or attempt to drive, a motor vehicle with THC (Cannabis), Methylamphetamine (Speed, Ice or Crystal Meth) or MDMA (Ecstasy) present in their oral fluid or blood.

“Unlike the blood alcohol limit which makes it an offence to drive with a reading of 0.05 or above, there is no limit when it comes to drugs - it is an offence to get behind the wheel with any level of illicit drugs in your system,” Superintendent Gray said.

When this operation was last run - on the evening of Saturday 28 April – police stopped nearly 3000 motorists for alcohol or drug testing. In total 28 drivers returned positive reading for alcohol, while 16 tested positive for illicit drugs – 10 for methamphetamine, one for THC and five for both.

“Unfortunately, our apprehensions show there is no ‘normal’ time of day to detect drink or drug drivers – people make poor choices at all hours,” Superintendent Gray said.

“We hope by making people aware of this Operation that they make better choices on Wednesday for everyone’s sake.”